Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-35302 is a high-severity Windows printer-driver remote code execution issue affecting Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver components across multiple Windows client and server releases. Successful exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but the provided sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
High priority for patch governance. This is not marked as actively exploited in the provided sources, but the impact is full system compromise and the affected footprint includes common Windows client and server platforms.
Technical view
Microsoft rates this as CVSS 8.8 with network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, and no user interaction. The weakness is listed as CWE-122, consistent with heap-based buffer overflow risk. The affected list covers Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2012 through 2022, including Server Core variants.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely where affected Windows versions listed by Microsoft remain unpatched, especially endpoints or servers using the PostScript and PCL6 class printer driver. The source bundle does not identify specific configurations, ports, or printer deployment patterns needed for exploitation.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false and cites no public active exploitation evidence. CVSS indicates exploitation is remotely reachable, low complexity, requires low privileges, and needs no user interaction. Treat as serious, but do not characterize it as exploited in the wild from these sources.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record, CVE List data, and Microsoft advisory. Do not infer exploit mechanics beyond CVSS and CWE-122. Validate product exposure and patch state before escalating findings as exploitable in a specific environment.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft security updates or guidance from the MSRC advisory.
- Prioritize affected Windows servers, print-related systems, and shared workstations.
- Remove or disable unnecessary printer driver exposure where operationally feasible.
- Track unsupported or extended-support Windows versions separately for remediation planning.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows versions and builds against Microsoft’s affected product list.
- Confirm installed security updates match MSRC guidance for CVE-2023-35302.
- Check whether PostScript or PCL6 class printer drivers are present on priority systems.
- Review vulnerability scanner findings for stale detections after patching.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-122: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-35302 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCVE reference · vendor-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Heap-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.